From Kelly’s Post Office Directory of Essex, Herts, Middlesex, Kent, Surrey and Sussex, 1867
DITCHLING (or DITCHELLING), eight miles from Brighton and Lewes, and a mile and a half from Hassock’s Gate station, is a parish in the Eastern division of the county, Street hundred Chailey union, Lewes rape, county court district and archdeaconry, and diocese of Chichester. The church of St. Margaret is a cruciform building of the thirteenth century, restored in 1864, and has double piscina and an aumbry and sedilla: there are stained windows by Wailes of Newcastle, and Clayton and Bell, of London. The register dates from 1551. The living is a vicarage, gross value £294 per annum, with residence, in the gift of Richard Hunter, Esq., and held by the Rev. Thomas Hutchinson, M.A., of Clare College; Cambridge. There is a small Unitarian chapel, and a National school for boys and girls. Here are remains of an ancient British camp. W. Tanner, Esq., Lord Abergavenny, and Capt. Richardson are the chief landowners. Bricks, tiles, and brown pottery ware are made in the parish. In 1861 the population was 1,061; area 4,183.
Parish Clerk, Peter Parsons.
POST OFFICE.- Thomas Muddle, receiver. Letters arrive from Hurstpierpoint at 7.30 a.m. & 2 p.m.; dispatched at 6.50 p.m.; on Sundays at 12 noon. The nearest money order office is at Hurstpierpoint
INSURANCE AGENTS:-
Unity Fire & Life, Thomas Sinnock
Liverpool & London & Globe, Thomas Fieldwick
London Assurance, E. Turner
Provincial, J. A. Westover
Royal Exchange, T. Wood
National School, Sampson Court, master; Miss Barker, mistress
CARRIER.- John Judge, to Brighton, every wednesday returning same day; to Lewes: every tuesday & friday, returning same days
Attree John, esq.
Boddington Mrs
Borrer Miss
Burnet John, esq.
Butcher Mr. John
Hutchinson Rev. Thomas, M.A. [vicar]
Mercer Richard, esq.
Nickoll Capt. R.N
Peskett William, esq.
Pocock Thomas, esq.
COMMERCIAL.
Andrews James, carpenter
Andrews Stephen, blacksmith
Ansett John, butcher
Brooker James, plumber & glazier
Brown John, farmer
Burt Henry, boot & shoe maker
Charman Edward, tailor
Chinery George, brick, tile & pottery manufacturer, Ditchling common
Comber John, saddler
Corney Elizabeth (Mrs.), Bull
Dumbrell James, farmer & landowner
Edwards James, plumber & painter
Everett Benjamin George, surgeon
Fieldwick Thomas, grocer
Hallett Lydia (Mrs.), White Horse
Hart John, farmer
Helyer Benjamin, baker
Holford John, beer retailer
Hunt Patrick, farmer
Jenner William, farmer
Judge John, carrier
Kensett William, auctioneer
Lelliott Charles, Royal Oak
Lindfield Mary (Mrs.), butcher
Martin William, farmer
Mayston Robert, shoe maker
Muddle Thomas, cooper
Nickoll (Miss), preparatory school for boys
Parsons Peter, shoe maker
Roffey John, farmer
Scrace Francis, farmer
Sinnock Thos, farmer & assistant overseer
Stoneham Philip, shoe maker
Toft James, bricklayer
Turner Edward, grocer & draper
Wood Thomas, builder